“You have to ask the coaches, but I feel like I’m putting together a good camp,” Sanchez said Wednesday. “I think I earned the right to start this first game and we’ll see how it goes from there.”

Metro’s source said Sanchez has “shown a command of the offense and is making better decisions.”

That’s not a knock on Smith, who has been sharp at SUNY Cortland in his first training camp: “Smith has done a tremendous job of closing the gap. A month ago, it wasn’t a contest, but he still hasn’t overtaken Sanchez. It has gotten closer and tighter.”

Smith, the team’s second-round pick out of West Virginia, was still expected to get snaps with the first-team offense Friday.

“I fully back Mark,” Smith said. “I fully back the coaches’ decisions. Like I said, I’m all about helping this team grow, helping us win. Once they came out with decision that he will start the first preseason game, like I said, I didn’t have any reaction to it. The only thing that I’m focusing on is making sure I’m prepared for the plays that I get in the game.”